Restaurants you’ll be talking about in 2020, from P.J. Whelihan’s to The Chocolatier and La Bella Sicilia

Along with a new year, arrives a fresh batch of new restaurants. So far, there’s plenty to look forward to in 2020.

The ever-expanding brewery trend will continue to grow with even more spots to enjoy craft beer, while one chain is planning a major relocation project.

Look for a popular barbecue joint to resurface under a new name and slightly modified concept. And, big changes with lots of sweet treats are in the works this spring at Hersheypark as part of the new Chocolate Town park expansion.

Looking ahead to the new year, here are some of the most anticipated restaurant openings.

A rendering of the new Outback Steakhouse being built at the Capital City Mall in Lower Allen Township.

In the meantime, the Gateway Square restaurant, which opened in 2000, remains open for business. Outback’s owner Bloomin’ Brands said they anticipate opening the new location at the end of the month and closing down the Hampden Township restaurant about one week before the relocation takes place.

Big projects take time. The Englewood Barn is definitely an ambitious project. But if all goes as planned the venue should open in 2020.

The heart of the project at the historic 150-year-old barn, remains the same – a destination with a restaurant, oversized patio, live music venue and brewery.

Design plans for restoring the existing 1861 barn and adding two build-outs, a new roof, patio and parking lot. The barn will encompass a 130-seat restaurant on the lower level that spills outdoors onto a nearly 200-seat patio with fire pits and outdoor grilling area.

As for Englewood’s entertainment arm, the venue will fill the barn’s existing first floor and showcase the existing wooden beams. Clair Brothers in Lititz will create and install a highly-engineered sound and lighting systems.

If all goes as planned their facility could be up and running by the end of 2020.

Wolf Brewing will encompass a brewery, taproom, lounge and kitchen with indoor seating for between 100 and 120 guests. In addition, guests can sit on an outdoor patio during warmer weather for special events and yard games.

The taproom will serve comfort food with a gourmet twist. Beer will be brewed on a 10-barrel system and cover traditional and non-traditional styles along with seasonal offerings.

They recently received approval from Mechanicsburg Borough for a conditional use application, further solidifying the brewpub will soon become reality.

Midtown Harrisburg-based restaurant-brewery-gallery Millworks is renovating a historic Market Street building, and will open a tasting room.

Owner Joshua Kesler said he will open a tasting room at the former Creative Elegance Boutique at 2129 Market St. It will serve beer made at the Millworks in Harrisburg as well as a limited menu and Pennsylvania wine and spirits.

“Camp Hill is a walking community like The Millworks’ location in midtown Harrisburg, so this is a natural fit,” he said in 2018.

Kesler opened the Millworks in Midtown in 2015, and along with the restaurant, the facility houses a gallery and about two dozen leased artist studios. He opened the brewery and 165-seat rooftop biergarten in 2016.

This restaurant is due to open at Hersheypark this spring as part of the Chocolatetown, a major park expansion including new roller coaster, Candymonium. The full-service restaurant and bar will feature “innovative far with hints of chocolate” served in an open kitchen. Cocktails will be crafted behind a Carrousel-themed bar while a signature dessert menu will be crated by executive pastry chef Cher Harris.

In addition, visitors will find The Sweeterie Confectionary Kitchen with more than 50 confections such as chocolate-dipped treats, artisanal baked goods, signature hand-crafted fudge and more. And if ice cream is something you crave, Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor vintage-style ice cream parlor will scoop sundaes and shakes using Hershey’s products.

After five years, a longtime New Cumberland area pizza shop is returning under a new name.

Owners of the one-time Original Italian Pizza at 113 Old York Road in Fairview Township are opening Sophia’s Pizzeria early this year. The shop will pull into the former Little Caesar’s at 119 Bridge St.

“We are going to do more gourmet pizzas. We are still going to stick to the original sauce and dough,” said Rosa Chubb, co-owner.

The menu will cover a variety of pizzas such as chicken bacon ranch, meat lover and grandma pizza along with loaded french fries, wings and hot and cold subs. It also will offer online ordering and delivery.

Soon, La Bella Sicilia bakery will open in a new retail complex along the Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township. It will serve dozens of authentic Italian desserts and pastries, as well as pizza, calzones and Italian foods.

“My goal is to make everything from scratch,” said Giampiero Faraone, co-owner. “All of the ingredients are from Italy.”

The Sicilian born Faraone, who has worked in the restaurant industry for 35 years, is joined by Sheri Tolomeo. The two are modeling the bakery at 5510 Carlisle Pike after Italian cafes where diners order cannoli, croissants and cassata.

A few years ago they opened a stand a the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg and followed with an outpost at the nearby Zeroday Brewing Co. in Harrisburg, serving “bar pies” to the beer-drinking crowd.

Up next, a sit-down pizza shop is due to open soon at the former Mercado’s Pizza at 937 N. Third St. in Midtown Harrisburg. Knead Slice Shop will specialize in Sicilian and New York-style pizzas, just like Mercado’s served.

Good news for those who have followed the smoke to Shakedown BBQ in East Hanover Township. It appears the restaurant is going to be resurrected in 2020 after owners Chris and Sarah Heilig closed it in 2019. However, a few hints on social media indicate it will reopen under a slightly different format - Sandwiches by Shakedown. No word yet on a location or opening date.